A tidy bathroom doesn’t happen by accident. People who keep their bathrooms clean and organized all have a few key tools and habits in common.
From smart storage solutions to simple daily habits, these five tips will prevent clutter from building up and make upkeep effortless.
Five Things People With Tidy Bathrooms Always Have
1. Drawer Inserts Amplify Functionality and Ease Access
Make the most of drawers with inserts.
(Image credit: Anson Smart. Design: Greg Natale. Styling: Joseph Gardner)
The number one thing the most organized people have in their bathrooms is good drawer organization. They are the best ways to organize deep drawers, and are a must when trying to keep a room with lots of small items, such as Q-Tips or hair ties, neat.
Meg DeLong, professional organizer and co-owner of The Tidy Home Nashville, says, ‘We always hope most bathrooms we organize have as many drawers as possible. This makes splitting up the space and organizing a bathroom vanity super easy, especially with drawer inserts.
‘These clear inserts from Amazon come in multiple sizes and can fit right into your drawer space to give you all the categories you need without them moving all over the place.’
2. Adopt a Less-is-More Outlook
Having less makes storage simpler.
(Image credit: Shade Degges. Design: Martha Mulholland Interior Design.)
Bathrooms can be one of the trickiest rooms of the house to organize by virtue of the number of different products we need. From hair and body care to medications, dental and beauty products, it can be a lot to fit in.
Times this by the number of people who share the space, and, as Meggie Mangione, pro organizer and author of Give Clutter the Middle Finger (available at Amazon), phrases it, ‘Your bathroom counter can look like someone tipped over an entire Walgreens shelf.’
That doesn’t mean you have to wage war against your daily skincare routine, she assures. Instead, the trick is to think about smart storage and adopt a less-is-more approach. Rather than bulk buying and having lots of products on the go at once, take inspiration from the underconsumption trend and commit to not buying anything new until the existing products are used up.
Then, when organizing, Meggie suggests adding a vanity tray. ‘Corralling everything onto one stylish surface instantly creates the illusion that your counter display is intentional and thoughtfully curated. It’s a small change that brings order without sacrificing convenience. Plus, if you get a cute vintage one, you can pretend you are a cast member on Bridgerton!’
We love this antique mirrored tray, from Anthropologie, for this look. Or, for something more modern, this marble scalloped tray, also from Anthropologie.
3. Functional Racks and Dispensers Are Key
Use towel racks that towels do not fall from easily.
(Image credit: Future PLC)
The quick things people with spotless bathrooms do, such as wiping down counters and taps after use, can help keep a bathroom looking tidy, but mess prevention is the best first defence.
Cathy Orr, co-founder of The Uncluttered Life, says that this starts with smart, functional organizing tools.
Towels, for instance, quickly fall off hooks and end up in messy heaps on the floor. Cathy shares, ‘I like ones that make it convenient to wipe your hands off after washing them.’ The Yamazaki Home Towel Rack, from Wayfair, is ideal if you need something movable that will also allow towels to dry quickly. This provides the extra benefit of preventing musty bathroom smells, too.
‘I also like a very functional soap dispenser,’ Cathy continues. To keep bathroom counters tidy, opt for a practical soap dispenser such as the refillable glass dispenser from Target. You can see through it, so you know when to refill, and the heavy glass base means it is less likely to fall over on a slippery counter with wet hands.
‘Pair it with this stone coaster, from Amazon, designed to absorb spills and prevent sticky soap rings around your sink for extra tidiness.
4. Moisture-Tolerant Storage
Consider breathability to prevent mold and damp in your bathroom.
(Image credit: Dmar Interiors)
An abundance of organizers does not always make for a tidy bathroom. Rather, the right items do, especially in a space so prone to moisture buildup.
Small bathroom storage in particular needs to be breathable to allow for air to circulate, preventing mold and damp smells, Cathy urges. This makes maintaining the storage and keeping the space tidier easier long-term.
‘Essentials for bathrooms include a great way to store paper products (toilet paper, paper hand towels) and essentials. If I’m doing this in a powder room, I try to use a basket with a lid or a decorative, but large enough, container.’ The wicker on these woven lidded baskets from Target, for example, will allow air to flow, so nothing spoils.
‘I place them so that others will see and use it,’ Cathy continues, ‘but won’t be so large that it becomes an eyesore.’ You might also find DampRid Moisture Absorbing packs, from Amazon, helpful.
5. Employ Simple Systems for Success
Simple systems in busy shared spaces such as bathrooms are easier to stick with, meaning everyone in the household can do their part.
(Image credit: Future / Future Publishing Ltd)
Practical spaces call for practical home organizing systems. People with tidy bathrooms always have the simplest systems in common, making putting items back and retrieving them from storage intuitive, even with damp hands.
If products are too difficult to get out of a drawer, you are less likely to bother with them, leaving them to expire and become clutter. Similarly, if items are too much of a hassle to put back, they will start to clutter countertops. The solution is to add easy-access storage that works around your existing routines.
Bathroom wall storage is a good example of this, Cathy suggests, as is a well-organized linen closet that keeps all your bathroom essentials exactly where you need them, in the bathroom, and not in a closet halfway across the house.
What to Shop
6 Pack Large Clear Plastic Drawer Organizer Trays
In three different sizes, these heavy-duty plastic drawer organizers are ideal for keeping smaller items neat in large drawers, stopping them from getting lost.
A tray beneath your everyday essentials can do a lot to make them look more intentional, and less like mess.
The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up
Transform your space with professional organizer, Marie Kondo’s The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up. It will easily help you pick and keep only what sparks joy and let go of the rest, curbing clutter all over your home.
Yamazaki Home Towel Rack and Bath Cart
This slimline towel drying rack is ideal for tidying small washrooms, offering a low-profile solution to hanging up to four towels and a bathmat so that they can fully air dry between uses. It has the added bonus of a storage tray for bathroom essentials, too, and wheels for easy access.
Fluted Acrylic Shower Dispenser
This glass soap dispenser is a far prettier alternative to the plastic bottles hand soap usually comes in. You can also use them for refillable soap products, helping to cut plastics from your bathroom.
Small Woven Water Hyacinth Milk Crate
For those items you are keeping, make sure they are well-organized. These handy drop bins are perfect for tidying up bathroom shelving and cabinets for easy access and good breathability.
Meet the Experts
The Tidy Home is a Nashville-based organizing and lifestyle brand founded by sisters Ea Fuqua and Meg DeLong. Meg believes good organization should support your life, not complicate it. She’s in charge of educating the team on how to tackle projects.
Meggie Mangione is a professional organizer who blends practical strategies with real-life stories to help people curate the perfectly tidy home. Her debut book, Give Clutter the Middle Finger: A Chingona’s Guide to Taking Control of Your Stuff and Your Life, was written to help you stop drowning in junk (physical and emotional) and start living with purpose, power, and maybe a little sass.
Cathy is a cofounder of The Uncluttered Life and the Declutter Deck. She is also a certified master in the KonMari method.
It isn’t just about what storage you add to your bathroom; there are some common bathroom design mistakes that could make keeping a bathroom tidy tricky, too.
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